Tennessee High Holds Off Trailblazers

BY JOSH FLOYD
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Wins have normally been measured in yards and even feet for the Big Nine Conference front-runners during previous campaigns. For the 2008-09 season, however, the standard measurement for victories has essentially turned into mere inches.

Co-conference leader Tennessee High, meanwhile, had to measure Friday’s 56-55 nail-biting conference win over Daniel Boone with free throws at Viking Hall.

Not only were the Vikings forced to answer six different fourth-quarter Trailblazer baskets, but the hosts also needed a flawless 12-of-12 performance from the foul line – including 8-for-8 over the final 7:05 – to thwart Boone’s second attempt for a signature conference statement in the last 10 days.

With yet another heart-racer under their collective belts, the Vikings (16-7, 10-1) moved a half-game ahead of idle Science Hill for the conference lead.

“We’ve only had three conference games this year that ended in big double digits, so it was just a matter of who was left standing at the end,” said THS coach Roby Witcher, whose squad is now 5-0 in conference games decided by five points or less. “And tonight, we were fortunate to be that team.”

The ’Blazers, who lost a 54-50 overtime decision against THS back on Dec. 9, nearly forced an extra session again. Down 56-53 with 3.3 seconds remaining, Boone coach Ryan Arnold designed a play for senior guard Nick Jones to take a game-tying 3-pointer.

But Boone, out of timeouts, wasn’t able to get the ball to Jones, who was well-covered by several THS defenders. Instead, ’ Blazer forward Hayden Chandley swiftly sent a pass into the corner for sharp-shooter Cody Connell, who had earlier kept Boone (9-12, 3-8) neck and neck with the Vikings behind a 13-point third quarter.

Connell, however, couldn’t connect on his fallaway from the right baseline. Kevin Connell’s non-factoring rebound and stickback just before the final buzzer continued a rough stretch for Boone, which has now lost by a combined nine points to Sullivan Central, Dobyns-Bennett – and now Tennessee High.

“I can’t say enough about my kids,” said Arnold, whose squad drilled all seven free-throw attempts to boot. “This is the No. 1 team in the Big Nine Conference right now … and we found out that we can play with them. I’d like to have another shot at them.”

Boone’s last lead came at 45-44 on a Tyler Stanley layup with 6:40 remaining. The Vikings, who never led by more than three points the entire fourth quarter, grabbed the lead for good at 46-45 on Denzel Gilmore’s jumper with 6:05 remaining.

And from there, the two conference foes traded punches. Fortunately for the Vikings, free-throw shooting saved the day, as pressure-packed shots from both Corey Young and Mason Canty kept the lead at three points during the final 78 seconds.

“Those were big foul shots,” said Canty, who added 10 points and three crucial third-quarter offensive rebounds. “By making those shots, it forced them to take the 3 [at the end], instead of being able to drive to the basket or try to get a foul.”

Young, who had a team-high 19 points and four 3-pointers, was torrid early, canning all four first-quarter attempts in helping the Vikings establish a 22-11 advantage. Teammate Tre’ Webb poured in 14 points.
Connell also ripped the cords for 19 points and four 3-pointers to pace Boone, while post player Thomas Karczmarczyk finished with 12 points.
DANIEL BOONE (55) – Jones 2 2-2 7, Keever 0 0-0 0, C. Connell 7 1-1 19, Gray 2 2-2 6, K. Connell 2 0-0 4, Karczmarczyk 5 2-2 12, Stanley 1 0-0 2, Chandley 2 0-0 5. Totals 21 7-7 55.
TENNESSEE HIGH (56) – Young 6 3-3 19, Gilmore 3 0-0 7, Stacy 1 0-0 2, Harmon 2 0-0 4, Webb 4 5-5 14, Place 0 0-0 0, Canty 3 4-4 10, Linnen 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 12-12 56.
Daniel Boone 13 12 15 15–55
Tennessee High 22 7 13 14–56
3-point goals – Boone 6 (Jones, C. Connell 4, Chandley), THS 6 (Young 4, Gilmore, Webb). Fouls – Boone 12, THS 8. Fouled out – None. JV game – THS 43-36.

GIRLS
Tennessee High 60, Daniel Boone 26

On a night that witnessed six different Tennessee High players net at least six points, the Vikings – which kept pace with victorious Dobyns-Bennett to remained tied for the top spot – scored the first eight points against press-frustrated Daniel Boone en route to their largest conference win this season.

Balanced scoring from the perimeter, along with much more assertive inside presence, turned Friday’s battle into a breakaway at halftime, as the Vikings (17-2, 10-1) reeled off a 12-2 run to take a commanding 29-11 edge.

“We were concerned about how we would respond following two tough games this week,” THS coach Barry Wade said, referring to hard-fought wins over Sullivan East and Science Hill. “We took care of the basketball, and we had some advantages inside as well. Overall, I thought we played very well.”

Sara Wysor drained three 3-pointers to finish with a game-high 10 points for the Vikings. Brooke Barnard had six for the ’Blazers (5-17, 2-9).

DANIEL BOONE (26) – Ch. Baskett 0 1-2 1, Sheffey 0 0-0 0, Franklin 0 0-0 0, Moncier 0 0-0 0, Summie 0 0-0 0, Bacon 2 0-0 4, Cox 1 0-0 3, Barnard 2 1-2 6, Co. Baskett 1 1-2 4, Johnson 1 2-2 4, Waycaster 0 0-0 0, Wilson 2 0-0 4, Bailey 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 5-8 26.
TENNESSEE HIGH (60) – Burleson 1 0-0 3, Vance 2 2-2 6, Grinnell 1 0-0 2, Brown 0 0-0 0, Montgomery 2 0-0 5, Wysor 3 1-2 10, Graham 0 0-0 0, Wood 3 2-5 8, Matheson 2 0-0 5, Keen 1 0-0 2, Thornsberry 3 0-0 6, Baker 3 1-2 7, Wheeler 0 0-0 0, Huneycutt 3 0-0 6. Totals 24 6-11 58.
Daniel Boone 5 6 8 7–26
Tennessee High 17 12 13 18–60
3-point goals – Boone 3 (Cox, Barnard, Co. Baskett), THS 6 (Burleson, Montgomery, Wysor 3, Matheson). Fouls – Boone 12, THS 9. Fouled out – None. JV game – THS 45-32.